“Over the past few years, the road to confrontation has shown its consequences: loss of innocent lives, destruction and fear. Most costly, however, was the loss of hope. The most precious gift that you can present to your peoples over the coming weeks is renewed hope born out of tangible progress on the ground.” YearsPastBornLossProgressWeekConsequenceDestructionInnocentConfrontationTangibleOver The PastPrecious GiftsInnocent Life Author:Abdallah II
“Ten years ago I said, you know, my goal is to be able to get food on the table. What I'm trying to say by that is trying to create a vibrant, capable and effective middle class. The quicker and stronger that we can be able to do this, the easier it is for political reform to move forward.” KnowsTryingYearsSaidAbleMovingPoliticalGoalClassMiddleEasierTenCapableYears AgoStrongerTablesMoving ForwardReformMiddle ClassPolitical Reform Author:Abdallah II
“When we try to push the envelope, there are certain sectors of society that say this is a Zionist plot to sort of destabilize our country, or this is an American agenda.” TryingCountryCertainOur CountryPlotAgendasEnvelopesZionist Author:Abdallah II
“Today more than ever we need creative minds to address the issues of the age. And one of the most urgent is this: How can humanity know so much, achieve so much, and still fail so many people so badly?” PeopleKnowsNeedsMindStillsAgeTodayHumanityCreativeIssuesFailingAchieveBirthdayAddressesUrgent60th BirthdayCreative Mind Author:Abdallah II
“Prime Minister Sharon, Prime Minister Abbas, I urge you today to end the designs of those who seek destruction, annihilation and occupation, and I urge you to have the will and the courage to begin to realize our dreams of peace, prosperity and coexistence.” EndsDreamTodayRealizingDesignDestructionProsperityMinistersUrgesPrimeOccupationPrime MinisterOur DreamsAnnihilationCoexistencePeaceful CoexistenceSharonAbba Author:Abdallah II
“I think the success of democracy is not really police security; it's the presence of a broad middle class. The stronger the middle class of a people is, the less you have to worry about one group coming in and exploiting the democratic process for its own ends.” PeopleThinkingEndsProcessClassWorryDemocracyGroupsMiddleSecurityStrongerPoliceDemocraticMiddle ClassBroadsDemocratic Process Author:Abdallah II
“The monarchy that I hand over to my son is not going to be the same one that I have inherited.” HandsSonMy SonMonarchy Author:Abdallah II
“We have peace with Israel. We're actually the last man standing. So there is going to be immense pressure and people asking, 'Why are we having this relationship when it's not benefiting anybody?' Obviously, my answer is you always benefit from peace.” PeopleMenLastsAnswersBenefitsStandingPressureAskingIsraelImmenseAsking WhyLast Man Standing Author:Abdallah II
“Is Israel going to continue to be 'Fortress Israel'? Or, as we all hope, become accepted into the neighborhood, which I believe is the only way we can move forward in harmony.” WayBelieveMovingI BelieveHarmonyIsraelAcceptedMoving ForwardNeighborhoodFortresses Author:Abdallah II
“No matter what's happening in the Middle East - the Arab Spring, et cetera, the economic challenges, high rates of unemployment - the emotional, critical issue is always the Israeli-Palestinian one.” MatterChallengesIssuesEconomicMiddleEmotionalSpringHappeningsNo Matter WhatRateCriticalEastMiddle EastPalestinianUnemploymentIsraeliArab Spring Author:Abdallah II
“I have the responsibility of over four million people, and I am in a position to do good, to be able to bring about a new life for my people, and I will continue to move in that direction. It's a burden, but it needs to be done, and you have to have the courage and wisdom to see it through.” PeopleNeedsDoneAbleMovingResponsibilityMillionsFourPositionBurdenNew Life Author:Abdallah II
“Political development should start at the grassroots.” ShouldPoliticalDevelopmentGrassroots Author:Abdallah II
“When you get billions in aid and your weapons resupplied and your ammunition stock resupplied, you don't learn the lesson that war is bad and nobody wins.” WarWinningLessonsWeaponsAidsBillionsAmmunition Author:Abdallah II
“The incentive that you give to your youth is going to be the make-or-break future of the country.” GivingCountryBreakYouthIncentivesMake Or Break Author:Abdallah II
“Remember you don't do anything in isolation.” RememberIsolationRemember YouRemembers You Author:Abdallah II
“We have to always hope in humanity that people will make the right choices.” PeopleHumanityChoicesRight ChoicesMake The Right Choice Author:Abdallah II
“We're never going to be able to get rid of terrorism, because there is always going to be evil in the world.” WorldAbleEvilTerrorism Author:Abdallah II
“Wikileaks didn't help confidence with American administrations because of conversations made public so easily.” MadeHelpingConversationAdministrationWikileaks Author:Abdallah II
“It's a tremendous responsibility to be direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad. This family has had the burden of leadership on its shoulders for 1,400 years. I'm not going to drop the ball on my shift.” YearsResponsibilityDirectBallsBurdenShouldersProphetMuhammadDescendantsProphet Muhammad Author:Abdallah II
“For me, I am left leaning when it comes to health and education, on the right when it comes to defense. So I don't know where I come on the political spectrum. And I think this the challenge that a lot of Jordanians have to deal with.” ThinkingKnowsPoliticalLeftChallengesDealsDefenseSpectrumPolitical SpectrumHealth And Education Author:Abdallah II
“I personally believe that any country that has a nuclear program should conform to international regulations and should have international regulatory bodies that check to make sure that any nuclear program moves in the right direction.” ShouldBelieveCountryBodyMovingProgramShould HaveInternationalNuclearChecksRegulationConformRight Direction Author:Abdallah II
“If you look at military and intelligence positions from the 1950s, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been against American national interests.” IfsLooksInterestMilitaryPositionConflictPalestinianIsraeliNational InterestsIsraeli Palestinian ConflictMilitary Intelligence Author:Abdallah II
“The Middle East has the highest unemployment percentage of any region in the world we have the largest youth cohort of history coming into the market place that frustration does translate into the political sphere when people are hungry and without jobs.” PeopleWorldDoeJobsPoliticalMiddleYouthHighestEastHungryFrustrationRegionsSpheresMiddle EastTranslateUnemploymentPercentages Author:Abdallah II
“There is a tendency by a lot of officials to hide behind the king. And it's about time that officials take their responsibility and are responsible in front of the people.” PeopleBehindsResponsibilityFrontsKingsResponsibleTendenciesOfficials Author:Abdallah II
“Through Hamas, Iran has been able to buy itself a seat on the table in talking about the Palestinian issue. And, as a result, through Hamas it does play a role in the issue of the Palestinians, as strange as that should sound.” ShouldDoeHas BeensPlayAbleSoundResultsTalkingRolesIssuesStrangeTablesSeatsIranPalestinianHamas Author:Abdallah II
“When there's a status quo, usually what shakes everybody up is some sort of military confrontation, at which point we all come running and screaming to pick up the pieces.” RunningPiecesMilitaryPicksShakesStatus QuoConfrontation Author:Abdallah II
